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Monday, March 07, 2016

SewExpo 2016 ~ Saturday

Now that I'm home and I'm thinking back on my weekend, I flew cross country to fabric shop! That's it in a nutshell...

Yes, I got to meet other wonderful sewists. Yes, I got to spend time with my West Coast Posse. Yes, I got to spend quality time with Gaylen but the essence of my trip is that I flew 2,841.6 miles to fabric shop. I've got a problem! *LOL*So let's start at the beginning. I've already detailed my Friday fabric shopping in Seattle. Saturday we got up bright and early cause Pulluyap is quite a drive from Gaylen's and we had to pick up Niema too. The three of us headed off to the Sew Expo.

I had a mission. Seriously, I wanted to touch and buy fabric from Marcy Tilton's booth. We get to Pulluyap and enter through the Blue Gate and what is before my eyes?! The Marcy Tilton booth! I kid you not it was destined...First some instructions...no drooling on your keyboard cause there is some serious fabric p*rn coming up. Two - I've linked to pieces that are still on Marcy's site but I am not responsible for you spending your mortgage money there! Three - this is a judgment free zone...cause I bought a lot of fabric. Okay let the show begin.When we stepped into the booth this is the first piece we saw...

...and I had to have it. It wasn't until we got to the cutting table that we saw the inside which I like soooooooo much better!

It's a panel print. I bought two panels to make a topper. See I have a plan!Next are two linen prints and these are prints! Such a difference from the staid professional prints I use to buy. Don't forget this is where I bought the fruit salad print last year which I used to make this outfit...and there was still some in the booth this year!

I love florals and this is just a luscious all over midweight floral linen

This linen print starts out black & white and ends up colorized!

Love, love, love this piece!

I will make shift dresses with these. Casual dresses that I can throw on with a pair of keds or my slip on wedge sandals to look put together but not too fancy for my day job. Gaylen and I were digging through the bolts when Niema showed us this silk charmeuse panel print. Be still my heart!

Niema bought some and is using hers to line a coat...that girl has outerwear on the brain! Me, I want to make a tunic like bow tie blouse with the print around the bottom. It should be simple but stunning!More there is more...these two fabrics were laying side by side in the back of the booth and I had to have them...

In my head I see a high low top in the white print and slim pants in the black print. I don't know if I'm bold enough to make it but wouldn't that be an awesome outfit!

A couple yards of this and the fabric pile was getting high! However, there was a woman standing near the cutting table pulling remnants out of a box under the table. She was pulling out the most interesting pieces of fabric. Now this isn't the basket that Marcy had of 3 pieces that would work together to make one of her creative tops. No this was just a remnant basket and I stopped to riffle through it and of course I touched something I didn't want to leave behind.

While this was a total impulse purchase, it is a simple knit that will make a great short version of McCalls 6559. You know I plan on adding a few more of these to my summer wardrobe because they wore so well last year.I was done because I was on such a fabric high that I was bouncing off the sides of the booth but I then laid my eyes on this...

Now I'd seen it on the website prior to coming to Expo but I didn't realize it was a reversible panel...so 2 panels had to come with me too! Okay don't make piggy noises at me. I flew 2,841.6 miles on United to shop...so shop I did! *LOL* But c'mon aren't these amazing pieces of fabric?! Won't they just elevate my sewing to the next level! Cause simple shapes deserve amazing pieces of fabric...I got a million of these rationalizations for the fabric I bought!In the midst of this fabric orgy, I spoke to Marcy and we took pictures together...I was S-E-R-I-O-U-S-L-Y fangirling!!!

I'll be honest at this point I was ready to leave. Hey I wanted to go back to Gaylen's pet my fabric and dream of what they could be...but I'd promised a few people that I would stop by their booths and see them.So our first stop was the Simplicity booth to say hi to Deb! I have no idea how I have no picture with her...must be that lingering fabric hangover! hahahahaha!

Yeah I bought a piece here too but it's all Michele's (That Black Chic) fault. She made this awesome trench coat from this fabric so I had to have some!

I'm making a cute summer skirt with mine since I only got two yards! I have to tell you it was awesome meeting Susan and talking to her about how she started her fabric business. Also, it was really nice to see some of her wares in person!Tired yet? Overwhelmed? Well think about me carrying all of that Marcy fabric around! *LOL* Niema and Gaylen wanted to see the Vogue Fashion Fabrics booth. I was game - hey it was more fabric! I have to admit that when I got there nothing was calling my name. So I was standing around the cutting table and I saw a woman cutting some of this ~

...and I had to have a piece! But c'mon it's an amazing border print eyelet. Seriously that is fabric nirvana! I was lurking so hard to get the bolt when the woman was done that the cutter was getting nervous. *LOL* However, I ended up with the bolt - yes! Gaylen then saw it and wanted a piece so it made it's way down the line of waiting women. I don't think that bolt made it back to the racks!I'm still lurking because Gaylen and Niema are still shopping. I mean I can't complain they waited while I spent ALL of my money at Marcy's...and I see one of the Vogue guys disappear into this curtained area. Then he comes back lugging like four rolls of fabric. Miss Johnny on the spot asks if they are new bolts going into the rack....ummmmm no! They belonged to a waiting woman who explains to me that she'd put them on hold the day before. Wait, what you could hold fabric?! Stop the presses...I got some issues with that UNTIL she says I don't want it all you can have some.That's how Gaylen and I ended up with this luscious polyester print...

Now don't judge because this is one of those amazing polyesters that feel like a silk. It has a great hand, great colors, and a great price...so we bought it.The final piece I bought at the Vogue booth was this cute little rayon print that called out to me "take me home and make a peasant top out of me!" So who was I to dash it's hopes and dreams...plus itwillmake the cutest top.

The best thing about these pieces were that all three were only $3.99 a yard. Can't beat that right?!We had lunch with Gillian from Vogue Pattern Magazine and then we took in the fashion shows - The Tilton Sisters show which is up on Marcy's blog and Patti Palmer & Melissa Watson presented the Vogue Patterns show. Of course, I saw a few patterns made up that I'd passed over and now want. The show always does that to me!After the show we went by the McCalls Pattern booth ~

Kathy Marone, Gillian and myself

Me and Kathy!

We also visited the Pendleton Wool booth but since I still have last year's pieces unsewn in the collection, I didn't purchase anything here. I did, however, touch the new Baby Lock sewing machines - oh man they were beautiful! I avoided the Janome booth because of that!!!One other fabric spot that we visited was Billie's where Niema and Gaylen purchased fabric. Very pretty pieces but I really was done fabric shopping at this point. I had no imagination left for new purchases.But I wasn't the only one fangirling! We stopped in Pamela's Patterns booth and Gaylen had a moment with Pamela. I can't blame her because she looks amazing in Pamela's Magic Pencil Skirt.

After that, it was time to leave to get ready to attend the ASG banquet where Carolyne Cafaro, Senior Vice President, Creative Director at McCalls, was the guest speaker.

She gave a great talk about the process of designing patterns across all four brands and she answered every question that was posed to her during the question and answer portion with humor and grace.It was a great way to end the day. Yes, if you've made it this far you've come to the end of the fabric orgy...but I had an amazing time! It's an awesome experience to be around so many people who are compelled to cut flat folded fabric up to either make a quilt or a garment. It's wonderful to see all of the vendors in one place and to meet readers of the blog!

Becky was so sweet she stopped me to introduce herself!

Thank you to everyone who introduced yourself. It truly was a pleasure to meet you. But most especially thank you to Gaylen and Niema who put up with me once again...y'all know what I mean! *LOL*I'm not sure if I will be going to Sew Expo next year...not because it isn't an amazing experience more because it's been crossed off my bucket list. Now I need to cross a few other sewing related things off of it!There is one more post about Sew Expo. I split them in two because this is super long and post heavy as it is....as always more later!

79 comments:

Hi Carolyn, I went to Sewing Expo too on Thursday and Friday, and here is what I said, "I didn't come here to save money!" I bought a little Janome to take to sewing events, fabric, patterns and took classes. OMG!! I learned SO MUCH!!

I was so inspired by the fashion shows and so very, very frustrated today!! I spent all weekend trying to alter a single pattern. I eventually wadded everything into a ball and tossed it in the trash. The pattern might be next - just saying. I'm hoping I get to actually put my new Kai scissors to use cutting fabric soon. g

I loved this post! What an exciting thing to go to a Sewing Expo, and how I'd love to do it. Now, how many miles would it be to fly across the Pacific.....hmmmm. Love your fabrics, every single one. The prints with buildings are amazing! I have always loved floral linen, which we don't often see around here. Looking forward to seeing what you turn out from the sewing cave from this collection :)

You just have to make that outfit you described with the black and white architectural print. It would be so great. Sounds like you had a great time and you did convey all your pleasure in the visit to your readers. Thank you.

It was so great to see you in Marcy's booth, Carolyn. I love the fabrics you bought and your ideas. That one linen that is black and white with red, well Marcy posted a video on her Facebook page with Diane Erickson choosing fabrics to go with that linen. It is pretty cool to watch. What a great sewing vacay you had (the best kind!!!)

So great to meet you at the SewExpo! I enjoyed every minute of it, especially getting to meet sewistas like you. Can't wait to see what you sew with the fabric that came from The Smuggler's Daughter's booth!

Hahahaha -- no judgement from me. I flew to Barcelona with a shopping list!! And, if you are going to fly over 2800 miles to go fabric shopping, I certainly would be another one who would make the trip pay. The one thing I'm shocked about is that you had to walk around carrying all of that stuff. You mean that the Expo doesn't have sparkly young people around to bag/label and take the fabric off your hands to store and if you'd like, ship it for you so that it's home when you get there?

Oh Carolyn!! What a beautiful stack of gorgeous clothes to be! And you are not the only one who travels across the US on a plane to buy fabric. I LIVE in Seattle and I could go to Sew Expo and sleep in my own bed! But twice I have flown across the country to buy fabric in your territory, in the Garment District! It is a noble endeavor. I hope I can meet you in person some time either in my territory or yours. (OR we could go across the Atlantic to shop for fabric in Paris or London).

I have far too much unsewn material, and only went into the Tilton booth this year because of your post last year. If I had bought that silk sketch panel, I would never cut it, it would just hang on the wall and I would pet it now and then. I should have placed bets with Marci about the linen floral and you; but who would have bet against it?Looking forward to more details!

Thanks for coming all the way to Seattle again for another Sew Expo. I'm sorry I had to miss the Expo (I was hoping to be one of those people who goes EVERY year!), but I'm glad we at least got lunch together. Enjoy all of your new fabric. You must be so inspired!

Oooh, THANKS for you post, Carolyn! I was sorry to miss it this year, but enjoyed it vicariously through your post!! I do hope to go in 2017, but it's not quite so far for me. Now, why don't you come to Paris this fall with the Tiltons! That's my next bucket list item. ;)

Oh my, I think you did an excellent job of restraining yourself, especially considering where you were! What beautiful fabrics you found, but you always have a great eye for color and design. I'm planning to go next year, so I will be sad to miss you if you don't attend as well. However, I'll probably be in NYC this summer, so perhaps we can meet up!

Which ASG chapter do you belong to? I am on the national board for ASG and love it when folks talk about what they have done with ASG. I hope to get to Puyallup in the next few years. I have to aim for that because Paris won't happen until...never. Maybe after I retire in 10+ years.

I was a guest of Gaylen and Niema who belong to their ASG chapter in Washington. I'm sorry but I'm not an ASG member. I registered one year but didn't really like the group which was also far from the house. You should definitely go. I've really enjoyed it both years even though I didn't take one class!

I know an addict when I see one and you are one! I drooled all over my keyboard when I saw your fabric. It is all so beautiful. If you live 200 hundred years you will never sew all the fabric in your cave, but who cares. Each piece is like a friend that tells it's own story. I was so inspired by your purchases that I placed my first order with Fabric Mart today. Happy sewing and congrats on your super weight loss. You look good.

I am coveting that stripe/floral material!! You've a great set of souvenirs (as I like to call them) right there.

I'd love to know how many people behind you in the queue then went on to purchase material you were buying - for fear of seeing a subsequent amazing outfit on here and thinking "I was there, I could have had that fabric!". I would have done that A LOT, haha

You must make the white and black prints top and pants. I'm still regretting a similar outfit (cream print top and navy print skirt) that I didn't buy nearly 30 years ago, lol. Your fabric choices are beautiful.

This Expo is on my bucket list too! Thanks for the review it's good to know it's worth the trip! I just took a pants class with Pamela Leggett in January - she's super sweet and shares her sewing and fitting knowledge.